A Firm That Specializes in Asbestos Litigation
Firms that specialize in asbestos litigation, versus personal injury attorneys who handle a variety of claims they have the expertise and resources necessary to help those diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses. These law firms have access databases that can help them connect a patient's diagnosis to their prior exposure to asbestos.
Workplace Exposure
Asbestos is one of the naturally occurring mineral fibers that are impervious to heat and corrosion. The fibers are found in a variety of products like floor tiles, building material and automobile brakes and clutches. Occupational exposure occurs most often during construction, ship repairs and manufacturing of asbestos-containing products.
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases can bring a lawsuit to recover damages against companies that exposed them to this dangerous substance. Compensation from a mesothelioma suit will cover medical expenses along with lost wages and other expenses related to this disease.
In the United States, mesothelioma patients and their families could seek financial relief by suing dozens of asbestos manufacturers. These lawsuits hold asbestos manufacturers accountable for not disclosing the risks associated with their products and causing mesothelioma, among other conditions.
Asbestos litigation differs from other personal injury cases since it can involve a lot of the same defendants (companies which are sued), the same law firms that represent plaintiffs and the same lawyers and experts. It is essential that asbestos-related injury victims hire an attorney with experience in complex cases and who is familiar with the background of mesothelioma lawsuits in the United States.
The most important aspect of asbestos litigation is determining the cause of an individual's asbestos exposure. This may require a thorough examination of the duration of employment and Social Security, union tax, and other records. Waters Kraus &Paul's lawyers can pinpoint the possible asbestos exposure sources and make legal claims against manufacturers.
Asbestos litigation is the longest-running mass tort in U.S. history, dating back to the 1960s. Asbestos producers are now beginning to feel the impact of this lawsuit by filing for bankruptcy, making settlements with victims and creating asbestos trust funds to compensate future victims. But, until this deadly carcinogen is banned completely mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses will continue to cause serious damage to the population of the world. Our lawyers are determined to hold asbestos companies accountable for negligence.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancerous form that affects the lung linings and abdomen, is a gruesome disease. It develops when asbestos fibers lodge in the lung's lining or abdomen and irritate cells. The cells may turn malignant and spread to different organs. It is extremely rare for mesothelioma develop in people who have no previous history of exposure to asbestos. In asbestos law and litigation takes a long time after exposure for the first signs to begin to manifest.
Mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, coughing and difficulty breathing. A doctor will conduct an examination of the body and prescribe imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scanners to determine mesothelioma-related symptoms. They may also recommend a biopsy to test for mesothelioma tumor cells in a tissue sample.
The biopsy can be carried out through surgery or removal of small amounts of fluid or tissue in the region affected by tumor. The biopsy is then examined under microscopes to determine the type of mesothelioma. There are two main mesothelioma types that are epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Epithelioid is the more responsive type of mesothelioma and accounts for 70% to the 80% of diagnoses. Sarcomatoid remains the mesothelioma that is not treated and is more difficult.
Lawyers can assist victims to receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and suffering. They can also sue asbestos companies for their negligence. They will look over the evidence and devise an appropriate legal strategy to maximize the value of your claim.
The statute of limitations for each state dictates how long a victim has to start an asbestos lawsuit after they are diagnosed mesothelioma. In the majority of states, the time limit begins when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma, or in the case of wrongful deaths, the date of death. Asbestos lawyers are well-versed in the laws of each state and can provide advice to clients on the most appropriate jurisdiction to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. They can also help victims avoid making mistakes that could lower the value of their case. For instance, a lapse in the date of diagnosis can result in a loss of tens of thousands of dollars in compensation.
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is a legal law which specifies a certain period of time within which a claim or lawsuit must be filed. Once the statute of limitations has expired the plaintiff loses the right to pursue legal action, regardless of the merits of the case.
Since the late 1920s when workers began reporting asbestos-related illnesses asbestos-related illnesses, asbestos litigation has been ongoing. It has become the longest-running mass tort in U.S. history, and it has impacted hundreds of thousands of people in the United States alone. Throughout the years, the litigation has been affected by changes in law, the expansion of a well-capitalized plaintiffs bar, increased media attention to mesothelioma and mass tort litigation in particular, and wider use of computers.
To ensure that the statutes of limitation have not expired, mesothelioma lawsuits and other asbestos-related diseases must be filed as soon as they can. Each state has its own statute of limitations and mesothelioma lawyers can help victims understand what deadlines apply to their specific situation. In most cases, the statute of limitations starts to expire after a victim is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
It is essential for a lawyer to have extensive experience in handling asbestos lawsuits as the statute of limitations and other legal issues can make it difficult to pursue compensation. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will spend the time to carefully review each client's case to determine how it may affect a statute of limitations and other legal questions.
Moreover, a mesothelioma lawsuit will help pay victims and their families for medical expenses, lost income and emotional pain that can accumulate quickly. The money derived from a successful suit can also ease financial burdens and allow for a better quality of life.
Waters Kraus & Paul has expertise in holding asbestos producers, distributors, and others accountable for the role they played in the development mesothelioma. Our lawyers have represented clients exposed to asbestos in Utah and California and across the nation. This includes those who worked in shipyards and oil refineries. We hold asbestos manufacturers accountable for their wrongful conduct and are committed to ensuring victims and their families get the financial compensation they deserve.